Some readers treat their books like sacred relics; others treat them like scratch pads. I have always found myself more in the middle (closer to the sacred relics TBH) too reverent to mark up a single page or dog-ear any corners but still wanting to record my thoughts at certain pivotal points in each story. Let me show you how and why to annotate a book effectively.
1. Turn Your Pages Into a Colorful Filing System:
My first introduction to annotating was seeing all of the pretty colored tabs in books presented by some of my favorite “BookTok” influencers and I was instantly hooked! I was reading A Court of thorns and Roses at the time, and I ended up filling up each chapter with tabs so that I could revisit each sentence that hit me hard. I pair my tabs with transparent sticky notes so that I am able to write on the page for more in depth annotating.
I color code as such when I want to capture every moment that grabs my attention:
Core Story Elements
- Blue – Character development (growth, backstory, or contradictions)
- Green – Themes, morals, or hidden meanings
- Yellow – Worldbuilding or setting details (maps, lore, cultural notes)
- Orange – Plot twists, foreshadowing, or important events
Emotional Reactions
- Pink – Beautiful quotes, poetic lines, or “this hit me” moments
- Red – Emotional punches (anger, heartbreak, rage, or shocking deaths)
- Purple – Romance, chemistry, or swoon-worthy moments
- Light Blue/Teal – Funny or lighthearted moments
Reader Notes / Personal Engagement
- Gray – Confusing parts or questions to revisit later
- Black – Quotes or concepts you want to debate, argue, or disagree with
- Gold (or Metallic if you’re fancy) – Personal favorites / “all-time highlight” passages
- White/Clear – Neutral note; just a reminder to come back and reflect
Say you’re reading Mistborn:
- Vin has a big breakthrough in her powers → Blue tab (character growth)
- Kelsier drops an inspiring line → Pink tab (favorite quote)
- You laugh at Breeze being sassy → Teal tab (humor)
- You don’t understand a line about Hemalurgy yet → Gray tab (confusing, check later)
By the end, your book looks like a rainbow map of your journey.
Make sure you keep a reference sheet of your colors so you can keep track!
2. A Reading Journal:
I journalled a lot as a teen and fell out of it once I got older, but journalling found me again once I got back into reading. I found a journal guides me along the way with a TBR section to track what books are on your horizon, dedicated pages for each of your reads where you can review and put notes. This is a handy tool for whenever I am recommending my favorite reads to any of my coworkers or friends.
3. Digital Annotation
I am a busy, on the go woman so I don’t always have time to sit down with a physical book, luckily that does not stop me from annotating my current read. My kindle is by my side when I travel and I use the “Highlight” feature religiously! A neat feature unique to kindles is that you are also able to see what other readers have highlighted on their reads. I am also a big fan of audible audiobooks, I click the “Clip” feature anytime a particular passage snags my attention so I can revisit that moment again.
Final Thoughts On The Matter
Annotating doesn’t need to scar your favorite books. Whether you choose to use colorful tabs and sticky notes, journal, all digitally, or a combination you have empowered yourself to interact with the stories you have fallen in love with. Please go out and live within those lovely stories!
